An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

2010/09/28

[Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

Hello, ignoble.experiment@arconati.us, and thank you for subscribing to Parent Hacks. Got a hack you'd like to share? Send it to hacks@parenthacks.com, along with your name and Web address (if you'd like us to link to you).

Toilet cleaning gel disc doubles as "pee target" for little boys

Kim's getting-the-pee-into-the-toilet hack:

I found this hack while Googling for help on getting my six- and four year-old boys to more consistantly aim inside the toilet when they pee. I was so fed up with daily cleaning and watching them pee all over the back of the toilet!

I bought a Flippee toilet shield which works well as long as it's flipped up. But I think I've found an even better solution (and this one helps keep the toilet clean): Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel. You squirt a little gel "disc" on the inside of the toilet above the water line. It lasts for a week, keeps your toilet fresh, and gives the boys a target to aim for.

Really wanted to share this "borrowed" hack as I'm sure many parents share my frustration with getting their boys to pee in the toilet.

Sigh. Pee. We must deal with it for so much longer than we'd like, especially with little boys. Thank you for sharing, Kim!

Past "pee target" suggestions have included Cheerios, Froot Loops, a square of toilet paper, and paper dots from the hole punch. Any other suggestions?

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Baby food jar as preschooler drinking glass

via michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com

Michelle admits what many of us have experienced: that weaning kids away from sippy cups isn't always as easy as it sounds. Here's her solution:

If you can believe it, my kids are 5 and 6 and until recently (I'm a little embarrassed to say it) they were still drinking out of sippy cups. It's been hard getting them to transition to big kid cups; plastic cups tip too easily and regular drinking glasses are too heavy and cumbersome.

My sister-in-law came over for a visit and left some large baby food jars (my niece is 1). It dawned on me that they might be perfect for little hands and mouths. And they are! The kids love them. And the best part? We're leaving the sippy cup behind and we're cutting down on spills.

Great idea. We had the same issue...in fact my seven year-old daughter still asks for a sippy cup "because of the happy memories." She's sentimental, but the fact is we often forget how comforting these items can be. It wasn't that long before that they were weaning from the breast or bottle!

We still use these little yogurt containers as drinking glasses...nice size, never spill. Trader Joe's used to sell this yogurt, but I haven't seen it in a while.

Related: Sake cup or shotglass for beginner cup-drinkers (lots more great ideas in the comments of that post)

More: Feeding/nursing tips